Joseph Edward Webster also known by the name Jack Webster (15 June 1902 − 22 August 1945) was a British

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...

who competed at the

1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad () and officially branded as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The opening ceremony was held on 5 July, but some competitions had al ...

. He was killed in a military vehicle accident during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Biography

Webster competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1924 Olympics Games. The following year, Webster became the national 10 miles champion and the national steeplechase champion after winning the British

AAA Championships The AAA Championships was an annual track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association of England. It was the foremost domestic athletics event in the United Kingdom during its lifetime, despite the existence of the offi ...

title at the

1925 AAA Championships The 1925 AAA Championships was the 1925 edition of the annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA). It was held from 17 to 18 July 1925 at Stamford Bridge (stadium), Stamford Bridge in London, ...

. He then retained his steeplechase title and also became the national 4 miles champion at the

1926 AAA Championships The 1926 AAA Championships was the 1926 edition of the annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA). It was held from 2 to 3 July 1926 at Stamford Bridge (stadium), Stamford Bridge in London, En ...

. Webster won a third and fourth successive steeplechase title in 1927 and 1928 in addition to regaining the 10 miles title at the

1928 AAA Championships The 1928 AAA Championships was the 1928 edition of the annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA). It was held from 6 to 7 July 1928 at Stamford Bridge in London, England. The Championships ...

. Despite being one of the leading British athletes at the time he was surprisingly left out of the British team for the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the IX Olympiad (), was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from 28 July to 12 August 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam had previously bid for ...

due to a technical difficulty. It transpired that Webster had been paid for the a photograph of him in a publication, which the AAA deemed as affecting his amateur status. Webster served as a gunner in the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and was killed in a road accident in Italy on 21 August 1945, a month before he was to be demobilised. He is buried at

Salerno Salerno (, ; ; ) is an ancient city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Campania, southwestern Italy, and is the capital of the namesake province, being the second largest city in the region by number of inhabitants, after Naples. It is located ...

War Cemetery.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Eddie 1902 births 1945 deaths Military personnel from Birmingham, West Midlands Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics British male long-distance runners Olympic athletes for Great Britain Place of birth missing Olympic cross country runners British Army personnel killed in World War II Royal Artillery soldiers Road incident deaths in Italy People from Rowley Regis Sportspeople from Sandwell Burials in Campania English male long-distance runners 20th-century English sportsmen